Colombian military troops are steadily deploying into a Switzerland-sized former guerrilla stronghold, while government helicopters fly over the zone in search of an abducted presidential candidate.

On Sunday, Interior Minister Armando Estrada Villa said armed forces are using extreme caution in retaking the enclave, ceded to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC in 1998 in an effort to advance peace talks.

The guerrilla group is accused of kidnapping presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt Saturday as she traveled to San Vicente del Caguan, the main town in the former stronghold.

Officials had warned the 40-year-old former Colombian senator and harsh rebel critic against traveling to the town, which had been reoccupied earlier Saturday.

The candidate's spokeswoman says the rebels also abducted Ms. Betancourt's campaign manager. Three other people traveling with the presidential hopeful were abducted and later released.

President Andres Pastrana ended peace talks with the FARC on Wednesday. He ordered troops to retake the enclave after the rebels hijacked an airplane and kidnapped a Colombian senator who was aboard.

Colombia is in the midst of a 38-year civil war. The conflict involves FARC, a smaller rebel force, the National Liberation Army, the government and anti-guerrilla paramilitary groups.

The fighting has killed 40,000 people in the past decade.

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

Email this article to a friend
Printer Friendly Version